Author: Jessica StapfCommunity Emergency Response Teams and the work they do across the country to prepare citizens and respond to emergencies in their communities have been a focal point for us here at the start of 2015. So far, we’ve profiled what these teams do and how you can connect with them via social media. Now […]

Author: Craig FugateThere are a lot of opinions floating around Washington these days about what’s at stake in the battle over funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). From my perspective as Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), I can say with certainty that the current standoff has a real impact on our ability […]

What Not to Do After Flood

Do not use an
ordinary
household vacuum cleanr to remove water.

Do not use
electrical
appliances while on wet carpet or wet
floors.

Do not go into
rooms with
standing water if the electricity is
still
on.

Do not lift tacked down carpet without
professional help.
Lifting the
carpet incorrectly could promote
shrinkage of
the carpet.

Do not waitto
call for
professional help. Damage from the
water and
bacteria growth can start within
hours.

What To Do During A Flood

If the
outside temperature is over 60 degrees, use
dehumidifiers if
available.

Use fans
/ air moverto circulate the air and assist
drying.

Remove as
much water as possible by mopping and
blotting.

Lift
draperies off carpet, loop through a coat hanger
and place
the hanger on the drapery rod.

Prop up wet
furniture cushions for even drying and place small wood
blocks or
aluminum foil under furniture legs.

Remove wet
area rugs or other floor coverings.

Open
furniture drawers, closet doors and luggage for
faster
drying.

Move photos,
paintings and art objects to a safe, dry area.

Remove wet
fabrics and dry them as soon as possible. Hang furs and
leather goods to
dry separately at room temperature.

Remove damp
books from shelves and spread out to dry.

If damage
occurs during a cool season, leave heat on; if in summer, use
an air
conditioner if available.